Stereotype matrix rack and drier



Nov. 19, 1940. c. s. HAMBLEN STEREOTYPE MATRIX BACK AND DRIER Filed April 21, 1939 GGHamZeg m ATTQRNEYS Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My invention relates to a receptacle for matrices or fiongs, such as used in stereotyping operations.

An important object of my invention is to provide a receptacle for matrices that may be positioned in close proximity to the casting machine and that will maintain the said matrices at the desired temperature until they are ready to be used.

Another object of my invention is to provide a receptacle for matrices that may be mounted in juxtaposition to the operator of the casting ma-= chine so that the said operator may have ready access thereto, thereby efiecting a considerable saving in time and labor.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a receptacle for matrices that has heating means incorporated therewith to prevent the formation of cold spots which are responsible for great losses of time and material.

Yet another object of my invention. to provide a receptacle for matrices that male in construction, efficient in operation, and mer pensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, talren on the line 33 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure i.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral ill designates a matrix receptacle constructed from any suitable metal and formed with an arcuately curved front wall l l having integrally connected r sides It and iii the free ends it and E5 of which receive the inwardly bent sides or the arcuately formed back plate iii. The sides l2 and iii are stepped upwardly from the front to the rear, as illustrated in Figure 3, so the back plate it extends substantially above the front ii. A bottom plate ll is welded, or otherwiw secured, to the front and rear plates 6 l and iii and has the ends it and I9 thereof projecting laterally beyond the sides of the receptacle ill, The base plate20 is bolted, or otherwise secured, to the laterally extending ends IB and IQ of the plate ill and the end 2i thereof projects substantially beyond the end iii of the plate I! to form a handle means by which the said receptacle may be conveniently held in transporting the same 5 from one location to another.

A longitudinally extending closure wall 22 is disposed within the receptacle ID at substantial- 1y a third of the way from the front wall Ill and defines a front storage chamber 23. A plurality of spaced vertically disposed rods 2-1 are positioned within the receptacle at substantially a third of the way from the rear wall l6 and define an intermediate chamber 25 and a rear heating chamber it. The arcuate electrical heating elements it, it and 29 are attached in spaced parallel relation to the vertically disposed end supports and ti and the heating device in its entirety is positioned within the central chamber oi the receptacle ill.

The casting machine used in the stereotyping operation is provided with laterally extending bolts 32 and and the clips 34 and 35 are Welded, or otherwise secured, to the sides l2 and E3 of the receptacle ill. The clip 34 is provided with a horizontal slot 5:36 which is adapted to receive the bolt 32, and the clip is provided with a vertically disposed slot ill which is adapted to receive the bolt The back plate It of the receptacle it is provided with a plurality of verti- 3a cally spaced openings 38 adjacent its bottom which receive the pegs 39 which in turn support the false bottom t0 spaced a requisite distance above the bottom plate ll. A switch ll controls the heating elements ill, 28 and 29 and may be 35 placed at any position most convenient to the operator of the casting machine.

it is a well known fact that the matrices are made from a pliable wood pulp, and that after the imprint is made, the matrix must be dried before it is ready for casting. At the time the matrix is to be introduced into the casting machine it must be of the same or approximately the same temperature as the molten metal which is be cast against it if the best results are to be obtained. Under present high speed printing conditions, such as a newspaper or the like, a maximum number of matrices must be produced in a minimum time, and it is imperative that the matrices be kept at a temperature approximating that of the molten metal. They frequently become cool when in the process of being transferred from the drying device to the casting machine because the material of which they are made loses its heat readily and, to bring them back to the required temperature. it is frequently necessary that they be replaced in the drying and roasting device. Even when this is done, there is always the possibility that the temperature will not be right when the matrix is finally taken out of the drying and roasting device and transferred to the casting machine. As a consequence several of the first castings frequently must be discarded because of the occurrence of "cold spots which result in faulty plates and a great loss of time and labor.

The present device is adapted to be detachably mounted to the casting machine in close Proximity to the operator thereof and as soon as the matrices are delivered from the drying machine they may be placed in the storage chamber 22 of the receptacle in where they will be kept in a heated condition by the heating elements 21, 26 and 29, thus eliminating the necessity to redry or reheat them. A number of the matrices may be positioned in the storage compartment 23 where they will always be readily available for the casting operator at the moment he needs them and at the temperature required. A few minutes before the operator desires to use a matrix he may quickly remove it from the storage chamber 23 and deposit it in the heating chamber 26 where it will be heated to a temperature approximating that of the molten metal due to the fact that it is only separated from the heating elements by the spaced rods 24. The arcuate formation of the back plate "5 will permit the same to fit snugly against the side of the casting machine which will maintain the said plate in a heated condition to further aid in maintaining the matrix within the chamber 26 at the requisite temperature. It will be necessary to leave the matrix in the heating chamber 26 for only the few seconds which it will require the operator to unlock the casting machine. The false bottom in the heating chamber may be elevated to the desired position in a manner whereby the operator of the casting machine will have ready access to the matrix disposed therein.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A matrix receptacle comprising an arcuated casing having an open top, electrical heating means positioned within the said casing and bisecting the same into front and rear chambers adapted to receive matrices, a heat conducting barrier arranged forwardly of the heating means in a manner to permit heat to have access to the front chamber but directing the greater portion of the heat into the rear chamber, and a plurality of spaced rods adjacent the rear side of the said electrical heating means to hold a matrix in close proximity to the heating means but in a manner to prevent the said matrix from contacting the same.

2. In combination with a casting machine having holding means, a casing, means to detachably mount the casing on the holding means of the said casting machine and in close pressed intimate contact with the heated exterior of the said machine, and electrical heating elements longitudinally disposed within said casing and defining compartments forwardly and rearwardly thereof, the compartment adjacent the casting machine being heated by both the heating elements and said casting machine.

3. A matrix servicer comprising a casing, heater elements dividing the casing into a storage compartment and a heating compartment,

said storage compartment being of a size to accommodate a plurality of matrices and said heating compartment being adapted to receive but one matrix, both of the compartments being adapted to receive heat from the heating elements but the matrix in the heating compartment being disposed in closer proximity to the heater elements than any of the matrices in the storage compartment.

4. A matrix servicer comprising a casing, heater elements dividing the casing into a storage compartment and a heating compartment, said storage compartment being of a size to accommodate a plurality of matrices and said heating compartment being adapted to receive but one matrix, and a heat conducting barrier wall arranged within the storage compartment whereby heat from the heating elements may have access to the said storage compartment but wherein the greater portion of the heat will be directedinto the heating compartment.

5. In combination with a casting machine, a casing detachably mounted on the casting machine and in close pressed intimate contact with the heated exterior of the said machine, electrical heating elements longitudinally disposed within the casing and defining compartments at opposite sides thereof, the compartment adjacent the casting machine being heated by both the heating elements and said casting machine, and a heat conducting barrier wall arranged within the casing in a manner to permit heat from the heating elements to have access to the compartment remote from the casting machine but acting to direct the greater portion of the heat into the compartment adjacent the said machine.

CHARLES G. HAMBLEN. 

